Alumni Spotlight – Lynn Snyder ‘76

As a student, Lynn Snyder was the teenage version of a “Renaissance Man.” He earned six varsity letters – three in football and three in wrestling. His fondest sports memories are of the legendary 1976 squad that won the school’s first YIAA football championship, posting a 9-1 record. Lynn recalls being on the field for every play of that season – offense, defense, and special teams. He also excelled in the classroom, consistently recognized as an honor student and selected for the National Honor Society. Regarded as a leader by his classmates, he was elected President of the SHS Varsity Club. And he played viola in the school orchestra. (Research is sketchy on the subject, but it’s a good bet there aren’t many offensive guard/defensive backs in school history that also played viola.)

Out of school, he worked in his father’s milling business, learning some agricultural science along the way, knowledge he would put to good use later in his career.

After graduation, Lynn attended Shippensburg University, majoring in Chemistry. While there, he devoted his energies to academic pursuits, became a dean’s list regular, and served as President of the Chemistry Club. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980, Lynn was hired by Wyeth Laboratories for a position in their research facility in Philadelphia.

But his affection for York County (and affection for his future wife who lived in York County) pulled him back to the area after only six months, and he took a job with AMP as a polymer chemist. His success there was impressive; in only five years, he worked on project teams that developed over 20 new products and was credited as the lead developer on two patents.

But as Lynn put it, “One day I realized I didn’t want to work for someone. I was young and had nothing to lose, so I decided to take a chance.” He quit his job and built a golf course – literally.

Mortgaged to his golf visor, he bought a 120 acre farm in the Spring Grove area, assembled a construction crew and array of subcontractors, and went to work with a vision and a shovel. When he was done in 1988, he had created one of the premier golf courses in the area – Hickory Heights. After this business success, Lynn felt the next logical step in his career was to build another course, which he did in 1992 – Oakmont Green in Hampstead, MD. After that it was Eagle Cross in Carlisle (2000). Most recently, he acquired Bear Creek in Westminster, which he renovated and reopened in 2008 as Westminster National.

Lynn looks back on his days as a Warrior with great affection, calling his class “tight knit.” He freely credits his experiences at SHS as contributing to his later successes. “It helped develop a good work ethic and moral background,” he says. “These qualities are essential to make any business succeed”

Working at his side in all these endeavors is his wife, Vicki (Keeny), whom he met while attending Shippensburg. Lynn and Vicki have two sons, Shane (22) and Cody (18). The boys have the same athletic aptitude and drive as their dad. Shane runs cross country and track at the University of Vermont and Cody enjoys golf and wrestling at Spring Grove High School.

In his spare time he says he does play a little golf, but mostly he runs, faithfully logging over five miles a day. “It helps me think,” he says. And is he thinking about yet another golf course? “It’s a possibility,” he says. Kudos to Lynn Snyder, Class of 1976.

Thanks for making us Warrior Proud!